Tellurium electrode printer



P. R. ADAMS Nov. 17, 1970 TE'LLURIUM ELECTRODE PRINTER Filed July 12, 1967 INVENTOR. PA UL R. ADA/75 Ji 1V4.

ATTORNEY US. Cl. 346-74 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is provided the apparatus and method to eliminate the wet characteristic of an electrolytic printer by ionizing the gas contained within a paper printing medium, such that tellurium ions are deposited on the paper producing a permanent mark thereon. A paper supporting platen which is a tellurium ion bearing electrode cooperates with a plurality of opposite arranged pins. The electrode and the pin are connected to a mosaic character generator. An ionizing means is provided to ionize the gas contained in the paper in the area between the platen and pins so as to provide the conductivity required between the electrode and pins to deposit ionson the paper according to the energization of the mosaic character generator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general this invention relates to electrical printing systems, and more particularly to the type of electrical printing systems in which ions from an electrode are deposited on a paper printing medium to produce a permanent mark thereon.

There are electrical printing systems which employ electrolyte process printing, for instance, a system as disclosed in Pat. No. 3,075,193 by Werner Schiebeler. In the use of such systems a tellurium platen supports the paper, and a number of fine tungsten or platinum wires make connections to the paper so that when the paper is moistened with a salt solution or other electrolyte solution it can be made conductive. Current is then passed from the platen to the fine conducting wires and this current carries some tellurium ions from the platen and deposits them on the paper thus producing a permanent mark on the paper consisting of deposited tellurium. The electrolytic paper must then be dried before it can be delivered by the machine. The drawback of such a system is that there are always problems with the appearance of the paper as a result of the wetting and drying procedure.

In most cases which employ electrolytic processes the paper used therein has a tendency to wrinkle, and during the processing the texture and appearance of the paper is inevitably changed. The systems which employ specially treated paper in order to overcome the disadvantages of the wetting process, are generally more costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a printing system in which tellurium ions from a tellurium electrode are deposited on dry paper, thus eliminating the need of an electrolyte.

Another object of this invention is to describe a method of printing in which the gas contained in the printing medium is ionized to permit the deposit of ions from a tellurium ion bearing electrode so that printing may be accomplished in an inexpensive wetless manner.

According to the broader aspects of this invention, a paper supporting platen which is a tellurium ion bearing electrode cooperates with a plurality of oppositely arranged pins, and includes means to ionize the gas contained within the open interstices between the fibers of tates Patent Oifice Patented Nov. 17, 1970 the paper so as to provide the conductivity required between the electrode and pins to deposit the ions on the paper.

A feature of this invention is that there is provided a tellurium platen which supports the printing paper and oppositely disposed are a number of fine tungsten or platen wires making connections to the other face of the paper. The tungsten or platen wires are connected through a mosaic character generator which is also connected to the tellurium platen. Logic energization of the generator causes ionization of the air in the paper.

Another feature of this invention is the mosaic character generator connecting wires and platen may incorporate -R.F. or sufficiently high D.C. exitation to induce ionization of the gas contained in the paper and as such achieve the rapid plating.

Yet another feature of this invention is to incorporate separate ionizing means which may be directed at the position of printing such as a radiating isotope in close proximity to the region to be ionized. For example, a beta emitter may be used, or an ultraviolet or X-ray emitter alone, or in combination with the exitation produced by the mosaic character generator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment vention; and

FIG. 2 represents another embodiment according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention is shown in which a mosaic character generator 10 is connected by lines 11 to a platen 12 and a writing head 13. Platen 12 is a tellurium ion bearing platen and forms one electrode. Writing head 13 has a plurality of pins 14 comprised of fine tungsten or platinum wires and positioned so that across paper 15 there may be applied a potential as developed by the character generator 10. The spacing between adjacent pins 14 should be several times the thickness of paper 15. The logic circuits in the mosaic generator should be designed so that the unselected pins are substantially open rather than being grounded, or held at some other fixed potential. Also each selected pin should be energized by a high resistance in order to limit the current to a reasonable value. The writing head 13 is moved by means of a driving spindle 16, and is movable in the directions of arrows 17. The paper 15 from paper roller 18 is fed in the direction indicated by arrow 19.

If one raises a potential between pins 14 and platen 12, the open interstices between the fibers of paper 15 which contain a gas will be ionized permitting current to pass from the platen to the selectively energized pins 14, and this current will carry some tellurium ions from the platen and deposit them on the paper, producing a mark consisting of deposited tellurium as shown at 20-.

The gas to be ionized could be the normal air already existing in the paper or somewhat different from normal air.

Although FIG. 1 indicates the pin forming the positive electrode and the platen forming a negative electrode as would be the case in DC, other methods to achieve such ionization would be in the use of an RF. mosaic character generator, wherein the RF. excitation is applied between the pins 14 and the platen 12. It should be also understood that the ionization may be applied by means of another according to the inhead in close proximity to head 15, this additional head performing the sole function of ionization of the gas con tained within the paper.

In FIG. 2 another embodiment'of this invention is illustrated which shows an independent ionizing means 21. Independent ionizing means 21 may be a radiating isotope in close proximity to the region Where the printing is to be performed. The radiating rays indicated by lines 22 will ionize the gas contained within the printing region, and thereby permit lower energy levels to be employed in mosaic character genera-tor 10. A beta emitter alone may be used, or the combination of a beta emitter and R.F. excitation from generator 10. Ionizing means 21 could employ ultraviolet or X-rays alone, or in combination with R.F. excitation to ionize the gas contained within paper 15.

The embodiment ilus-trated in FIG. 2 permits many combinations and posibilities, the initial field to induce ionization may be produced by ionizing means 21, and this ionization is then kept alive by RF. excitation or high D.C. field excitation to affect the printing process.

Although it is possible to use ordinary paper, wherein the open interstices between the fibers are initially filled with air, it must be remembered that to facilitate ionization, traces of additional gas more easily ionizable than oxygen and nitrogen may be diffused into the paper. The methods available and combinations posible with this invention, make printing by means of an ionization process as described herein a real advance over the prior electrolytic processes.

While I have described the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus and method steps, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a paper printing medium;

a tellurium platen electrode supporting the printing a plurality of pins making contact to the front of said a high voltage mosaic character generating means coupled for selectively energizing said pins and electrode;

means for radiating and initially ionizing an area of paper located between said pins and platen; and

said generating means causing a current to be passed between said platen and selectively energized pins for depositing tellurium ions in the ionized area of the printing paper to produce a permanent mark thereon.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for radiating include means focused to said area and emitting a beta ray, ultraviolet ray or X-ray.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 166,859 8/1875Edis0n 34674 3,075,193 1/1963 Schiebeler 346-74 3,167,166 1/1965 Schiebeler.

OTHER REFERENCES B-ovey, F. A. Efiect of Ionization Radiation on Synthetic and Natural High Polymers. Inter. Science Publisher, N.Y., 1958, pp. 65-69.

JAMES W. MOFFITT, Primary Examiner G M. HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner 

